It is with great sadness that we share that long-time friend of Mamamia, Sam de Brito has passed away today.
Sam, 46, was a very popular and influential writer and columnist. With a style that was both smart and relatable, he led the national conversation about what it meant to be a man in Australia.
Family, friends and readers will remember his thoughtful reflections on parenting and his devotion to his young daughter, Anoushka.
We send our love and support to his family and his many, many friends.
A few years ago, Sean Power wrote a post about how much he looked up to Sam, and how Sam’s writing made him the man he is today.
We are proud to share Sean’s post about Sam with you again today.
Sean writes…
Growing up, I was never taught much about becoming a ‘man’.
At school, the girls were ushered into a separate classroom most weeks to talk about their changing bodies and impending womanhood. But us young fellas were only ever thrown into the gym ad-hoc to talk awkwardly with our sports teacher about deodorant and erections. It was never about becoming a better bloke: emotions, relationship, masculinity or being a good mate — just to name a few characteristics.
So, looking back, it’s no surprise that adolescence caught me off guard.
Before I could even get my head around what was happening, it arrived. My brain shifted gears and things started to grow, drop and shrink. But it wasn’t just physical: the simplicity of being a young kid quickly disintegrated, and questions around alcohol, drugs and relationships appeared.
Top Comments
Holy crap! I was overseas when Sam died and only today I've heard about it. When I was a suburban newspaper reporter I was on the scene in Blacktown where some dickhead let off a bomb in a paddock. The cops naturally treated as though it was the second 9/11 and Sam was there covering it for - I think - the Daily Tele. I got a flat tyre and he whipped off his white shirt and changed it for me.
RIP Sam :-(
thanks so much for those clips, the warmed me, but still teary!